613-831-4435
Pack of Lies
by
Hugh Whitemore
Performed February 2012
(February 7-11&14-18,2011)
at the Ron Maslin Playhouse
(10 performances: part of the regular season)
Directed by Bev Brooks
CAST
| BARB | Barbara Kobolak |
| BOB | Martin Weeden |
| JULIE | Laura Patriquin |
| HELEN | Larraine Gorman |
| PETER | Alain Chamsi |
| INSPECTOR STEWART | Doug MacDonald |
| THELMA | Lynda DeGuire |
| SALLY | Lisa Wagner-Boisvert |
PRODUCTION STAFF
DIRECTOR'S
NOTE
I was drawn to Hugh
Whitemore's play over fifteen years ago.
It echoed an event I experienced during
my first year in Canada while I taught
English in an international language
school in Ottawa. Many of my clients
worked for foreign embassies. At the end
of one course my husband and I received
and accepted an invitation to dinner at
the home of the then Third Secretary of
the Soviet Embassy.
As politeness (and will) dictated, I reciprocated this invitation. Vladimir asked if I were certain, since he was usually followed, and such an act would attract attention for the Canadian Authorities. I responded, naively parhaps, that I had a right to invite whomever I wished to my home because Canada was a free country. He suggested that when he and his wife arrived, he should park in front of my car to mask the Soviet diplomatic plates. I thought he was being over-dramatic. They came to supper and we have an enjoyable evening.
A few days later, we were visited by two Canadian 'agents'. They explained that befriending a member of the Soviet Embassy put us in a unique situation which could be useful. They wanted us to nurture the 'friendship' and to relay any information we were told, to them.
They asked my husband about his occupation both here and in the UK and whether he had ever signed the Official Secrets Act (which he had). He could not go into detail about what he did in the UK because of that act, but he told them that it had involved developing infra-red detectors for heat-seeking missiles. The agent writing notes nearly fell off the sofa on hearing that.
I refused their request, saying I would rather end the friendship that use the friendship. And that, sadly, is what we had to do. The agents came by a few more times asking questions, alsways in a different car! I felt paranoid for weeks, believing I was being followed. It was an uncomfortable start to my new life in Canada.
It is not suprising that Pack of Lies interested me. It is a thought-provoking play which examines the themes of friendship versus patriotism, of loyalty and deception. It also considers how little power the ordinary man has to say 'no' when he wants to take a stand against state officialdom.
In the play, an ordinary family, the Jacksons, have to deal with state infiltration into their lives by a patronizing authority figure, Stewart. He uses them, but frustratingly will not disclose any information. They descend into a situation where the apparent deception and disloyalty they abhor in their friends, become exactly what they are required to do in the name of patriotism. As Barbara says, "We're all playing the same rotten game". And they hate themselves for it. Barbara especially wrestles with her impotence to argue abainst the imperative of patriotism and the moral angst she feels at betraying her closest friend. The events turn everyone involved into either liars or withholdrs of truth. There are no winners.
Lonsdale, Kroger and the other characters were fascinating to research on the Internet. The details, including the 'boiler' incident at the end of the play, and what happened to Ethel Rosenberg, are all documented. Today we hear of respected colonels being serial killers, locals being terrorists or paedophiles . . .
How well do you know your friends and neighbours?
P.S. I did bump into Vladimir in Zellers about a year later, just before the end of his term in Canada. We hugged warmly and cursed politics!
